Camera adaptor box and camera control method

ABSTRACT

An adapter for controlling a first camera and a second camera, which exhibit differing operating characteristics, in a three-dimension ( 3 D) camera imaging system. The adapter provides a camera control signal to the first camera to control operation of the first camera. The adapter converts the camera control signal to a second camera control signal utilizing information from the first and the second cameras indicative of imaging states of the cameras, and provides the second camera control signal to the second camera to control operation of the second camera. The conversion compensates for the differing operating characteristics of the first and second cameras.

CONTINUATION INFORMATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. P2009-292607 filed on Dec. 24, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera adaptor box and a camera control method that are suitable for use in applications in which 3D (three dimensional) images are generated from the images taken by two units of cameras, for example.

2. Description of Related Art

3D camera systems have been in use in which 3D images are obtained by combining the images separately taken by two different cameras.

Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a related-art 3D camera system 101.

The 3D camera system 101 has two cameras 110 a and 110 b, control panels 111 a and 111 b for controlling the operation of each of the cameras 110 a and 110 b, and a monitor 112 on which images outputted from the cameras 110 a and 110 b are displayed.

A reference signal is directly entered in each of cameras 110 a and 110 b and each of the cameras 110 a and 110 b directly outputs a taken image to an external apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 16, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a related-art 3D camera system 102.

The 3D camera system 102 has camera control units 113 a and 113 b that are connected to cameras 110 a and 110 b, respectively, thereby outputting control signals to the camera 110 a and 110 b and outputting images received from the cameras 110 a and 110 b. The cameras 110 a and 110 b are connected to the camera control units 113 a and 113 b with single link digital optical transmission paths capable of transmitting video signals at a transfer rate of 1.5 Gbps, for example. The camera control units 113 a and 113 b are also connected to a simultaneous control apparatus 114 configured to simultaneously control the operations of the camera 110 a and camera 110 b. From this simultaneous control apparatus 114, the restricted functions of the cameras 110 a and 110 b can be simultaneously controlled. This function is intended to simultaneously control two or more system cameras; in this example, this function is applied to the control of the two cameras 110 a and 110 b.

Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown, an exemplary configuration of a related-art 3D camera system 103.

The 3D camera system 103 has a configuration in which two or more of the 3D camera systems 102 shown in FIG. 16 are operated in parallel. Simultaneous control apparatuses 114 a through 114 c are arranged for the different 3D camera systems 102, thereby controlling the cameras 110 a and cameras 110 b of each of these 3D camera systems 102.

However, the above-mentioned related-art technologies have no ability to simultaneously control the 3D cameras in one 3D camera system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It should be noted that generating a 3D image involves two images having different parallaxes. Typically, an engineer must operate not only the camera control units and the simultaneous control apparatus, but also adjust two cameras 110 a and 110 b. Therefore, the engineer needs to carry out the job that is approximately double when there is only one camera.

For example, in relaying a sports program in a 3D manner, two or more 3D cameras must be arranged at various locations. In addition, because the camera adjustment is required during a relay operation, two or more cameras must be adjusted at the same time. However, the movements of subjects are generally quick in a sports program, for example. This not only requires engineers with high technical operation skills in executing image adjustment, but also makes the 3D camera system complicated, thereby increasing the operation work load.

In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the adjustment of the two cameras 110 a and 110 b is possible by camera linking capabilities such as master-slave realized by the simultaneous control apparatuses 114, 114 a through 114 c, for example. However, as shown in the 3D camera system 103, operating two or more 3D camera systems 102 requires the installation of the same number of master-slave functions as the number of 3D cameras, the cameras 110 a and 110 b, on the 3D camera system 103. This also causes a problem of increasing the system configuration.

Further, use of a rig mechanism (or a half-mirror mechanism), one of mechanisms for arranging the cameras 110 a and 110 b in order to configure the 3D camera system 101, requires the inversion of taken images. Therefore, use of a 3D camera system based on the rig mechanism requires matching the timing of taking a subject using the cameras 110 a and 110 b with the phase of video signals outputted by the cameras 110 a and 110 b; otherwise, the taken images are delayed to cause an incomplete resultant 3D image.

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention addresses the above-identified and other problems associated with related-art methods.

As described above, it is possible to set the difference of the second camera relative to the first camera, output the first control value to the first camera, and output a second control value with a difference corrected to a second camera in order to operate two units of cameras.

This novel configuration saves the engineer the work of taking images for 3D imaging. In doing so, the two units of cameras output images that are homogenous to each other because the differences between these images are corrected. This novel configuration provides advantages of providing the output suitable for 3D images that are displayed by combining two images.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to an adapter for controlling a first camera and a second camera in a three-dimension (3D) camera imaging system. The first and second cameras exhibit differing operating characteristics and producing image signals. The adapter includes a source of a camera control signal to control predetermined operations of the first camera; and a converter for converting the camera control signal to a second camera control signal to control said predetermined operations of said second camera, said converter compensating for said differing operating characteristics of said first and second cameras.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and also including an output for supplying image signals picked up by the first camera and the second camera.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and the first camera and the second camera are controlled substantially simultaneously.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and a processing unit for receiving an initial first control value and an initial second control value.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and wherein the adapter sends the initial first control value to the first camera and the initial second control value to the second camera, and wherein the processing unit calculates differential data as a function of (1) information indicative of an imaging state of the first camera and (2) information indicative of an imaging state of the second camera.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and also includes a storage unit for storing the differential data.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and the converter utilizes the differential data for compensating for the differing operating characteristics of the first camera and the second camera.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and the processing unit generates a corrected control value as a function of the differential data.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and the source of the camera control signal sends the camera control signal to the first camera and sends a corrected control signal to the second camera, and the corrected control signal is a function of the corrected control value.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and the camera control signal controls an iris adjust value, aperture, zoom, camera direction, setting positions, or timing.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and a difference in the image signals supplied by the first camera and the second camera are utilized in converting the camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control the predetermined operations of the second camera.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and images from the first camera and second camera are supplied to a viewfinder, and a difference in the supplied image to the viewfinder by the first camera and the second cameras are utilized in converting the camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control the predetermined operations of the second camera.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the adapter described above and also includes a timing generation circuit for generating a first timing signal and a second timing signal for controlling operation of the first camera and the second camera simultaneously.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of operating a camera system described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system made up of camera heads and a camera adaptor box practiced as one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system in which a camera control unit is added to the 3D camera system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system in which the two or more 3D camera systems shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in parallel;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary camera mount on which the two 3D cameras shown in FIG. 1 are mounted;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of the 3D camera system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of a camera adaptor box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of a video interface block shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary internal configurations of the camera adaptor box and camera heads shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are pictures indicative of exemplary images taken by scan lines in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a graph indicative of an exemplary relation between iris adjustment value and iris aperture in the cameras shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a graph indicative of an example of correcting the iris aperture of the cameras shown in FIG. 1 by use of a correction function;

FIG. 12 is a graph indicative of an example of correcting the iris aperture of the cameras shown in FIG. 1 by use of a correction function approximating a line plot;

FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C are pictures indicative of display examples of images shown on a viewfinder block shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C are pictures indicative of display examples shown on the viewfinder block shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a related-art 3D camera system;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating another related-art 3D camera system; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating still another related-art 3D camera system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

This invention will be described in further detail by way of embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description will be made in the following order.

1. One embodiment of the invention (a camera control function; namely, an example in which two or more camera heads are used for a 3D camera system).

2. Variations to the above-mentioned embodiment.

One Embodiment of the Invention

The following describes one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 through 14. With one embodiment of the invention, examples of 3D camera systems each having a camera adaptor box 12 configured to output images taken by two camera heads 10 a and 10 b to an external apparatus by giving image taking instructions to these camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

Now, referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system 1.

The 3D camera system 1 has an optical system, an image device, and other elements, not shown, and has a camera head 10 a and a camera head 10 b that are configured to output images of a taken subject. It should be noted that the camera head 10 a and the camera head 10 b are fixed on a wall for example and have no function of recording taken images.

In the following description, it is assumed that an image outputted by the camera head 10 a may be used for the right channel (or the right eye) and an image outputted by the camera head 10 b be used for the left channel (or the left eye).

Further, the 3D camera system 1 has a camera adaptor box (CAB) 12 configured to control the operations of the camera head 10 a and the camera head 10 b to execute predetermined processing on the images received from the camera head 10 a and the camera head 10 b, thereby outputting the processed images. The camera adaptor box 12 has a viewfinder block 13 configured to display the images of a subject taken by the camera head 10 a and the camera head 10 b, under the control of a video interface block 24 (refer to FIG. 5 below).

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system 2.

The 3D camera system 2 has a camera head 10 a and a camera head 10 b, a camera adaptor box 12, and a camera control unit (CCU) 14 that is connected to the camera adaptor box 12 via a camera cable 15. For the camera cable 15, a wide-band digital optical transmission path capable of transmitting massive amounts of optical digital signals. In this example, as compared with a related-art 1.5 Gbps data rate, embodiments of the present invention assume an optical data transmission rate of 3.7 Gbps. It should be noted here that embodiments of the present invention allow video data compression to realize narrow-band transmission.

The camera adaptor box 12 collects images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and transmits these images to the camera control unit 14 over the camera cable 15. The camera adaptor box 12 executes processing, such as inverting images entered from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and delaying an output signal so as to provide signal in-phasing.

Between the camera control unit 14 and the camera adaptor box 12, a wideband (more than double a related-art band) communication interface is used. This interface can simultaneously transmit the images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. In addition, the camera control unit 14 has a communication interface compliant with 3G-HDI for example through which the camera control unit 14 can transfer video signals to an external device at high speeds. The camera control unit 14 outputs a control signal received from the a control panel 11 to the camera adaptor box 12 and outputs a video signal received from the camera adaptor box 12 to a display apparatus and a recording apparatus, not shown. Further, the camera control unit 14 is controlled by the control panel 11 operated by an engineer.

As described above, because the camera adaptor box 12 is arranged between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and the camera control unit 14, it appears that, from the camera adaptor box 12, the operation of one camera is being controlled from the camera adaptor box 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a 3D camera system 3.

The 3D camera system 3 is configured in which the 3D camera systems 2 shown in FIG. 2 are operated in parallel. The camera control unit 14 is arranged for each of the 3D camera systems 2. The operation timing between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b arranged for each 3D camera system 2 is controlled.

The camera control unit 14 is also connected to a simultaneous control apparatus 6 that simultaneously controls the operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b arranged for the 3D camera system 2 that are operated in parallel. The camera adaptor box 12 can differentiate a control value by a difference in the operation of the camera head 10 b for the camera head 10 a, thereby controlling the operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b as if these cameras are one unit of the camera. Consequently, 3D camera systems 101 through 103, the 3D camera system 3 can be simplified in configuration. The camera head 10 a, the camera head 10 b, the camera adaptor box 12, the camera control unit 14, and the simultaneous control apparatus 6 are interconnected by a network. The connection between these components is realized by coaxial cables, triaxial cables, optical fiber cables, wireless communication, and other communication media.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there is shown an exemplary configuration of a mount (RIG) 7 on which the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are mounted.

FIG. 4A shows an exemplary configuration of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b when the mount 7 is viewed from one side.

If the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are arranged with the zoom of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to equal one and a lens distance thereof matched with the human eye, a 3D image obtained from the images taken the camera heads 10 a and 10 b thus arranged looks natural. However, because the housings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are relatively large and, if the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are arranged side by side for imaging, a subject is taken with a parallax wider than that of the human eyes, resulting in an unnatural 3D image. Hence, the mount 7 has a half mirror 8. The first camera head 10 a is arranged at a position where the image of a subject is directly enters through the half mirror 8. The second camera head 10 b is arranged at a position where the image of the subject enters after being reflected from the half mirror 8. Thus, the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are arranged such that the optical axes of the lenses of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b vertically cross each other.

FIG. 4B shows an example of how the half mirror 8 looks when viewed from the direction of arrow 9. The camera heads 10 a and 10 b are arranged on the mount 7 by shifting from each other in a distance obtained by the parallax of the human eyes. Hence, the lens of the camera head 10 a looking through the half mirror 8 and the lens of the camera head 10 b looking as reflected from the half mirror 8 are shifted from each other in the horizontal direction. Thus, arranging the half mirror 8 on the mount 7 allows the installation of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to match with the parallax of the human eyes, thereby producing a natural looking 3D image.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an exemplary internal configuration of the 3D camera system 2.

The camera head 10 a has an imaging device 16 that outputs a video signal. The imaging device 16 is made up of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imager or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, for example.

The camera head 10 a has a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit 17 for executing a PLL operation under the control of the camera adaptor box 12 and a timing generation circuit 18 for generating an imaging timing signal of the imaging device 16 by a PLL operation of the PLL circuit 17. In addition, the camera head 10 a has a CPU 19 a for controlling each of the components of the camera system and a video processor 20 that executes predetermined processing on a video signal outputted from the imaging device 16 to output the processed video signal to the camera adaptor box 12.

It should be noted that the camera head 10 b is generally the same in configuration as the camera head 10 a except a CPU 19 b instead of the CPU 19 a. Therefore, the similar components of the camera head 10 b are denoted by the same reference numbers as those of the camera head 10 a and the description of the similar components will be skipped for the brevity of description.

The camera adaptor box 12 has a PLL circuit 21 for executing a PLL operation under the control of the camera control unit 14 and a timing generation circuit 22 for generating an imaging timing signal for controlling the imaging timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b by a PLL operation of the PLL circuit 21. In addition, the camera adaptor box 12 has a CPU 23 for controlling each component of the camera adaptor box 12, a video interface block 24 for executing predetermined processing on the video signals supplied from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to output the processed signals to the camera control unit 14, and a viewfinder block 13. A viewfinder signal is supplied to the viewfinder block 13 from the video interface block 24. The images of a subject are shown on the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, allowing the engineer to check the taken images (refer to FIGS. 13A to 14C to be described later).

The camera control unit 14 has a PLL circuit 31 that executes a PLL operation on the basis of a reference signal supplied from an external apparatus, not shown, and a timing generation circuit 32 that generates a timing signal for controlling the operation timing of the camera adaptor box 12 by a PLL operation of the PLL circuit 31. In addition, the camera control unit 14 has a CPU 33 that controls the processing of each component of the camera control unit 14 in cooperation with the CPU 23 of the camera adaptor box 12 and a video interface 34 that executes predetermined processing on the video signal supplied from the camera adaptor box 12 to output the processed video signal to an external apparatus, not shown.

The following describes the operation of each component mentioned above.

The CPU 33 of the camera control unit 14 functions as an instruction value output block that outputs instruction values for instructing the CPU 23 to instruct the operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, these instruction values serving as the basis for the first and second control values. Then, the video interface 34 of the camera control unit 14 outputs the images received from the video interface block 24 of the camera adaptor box 12 to an external apparatus, not shown.

The CPU 23 of the camera adaptor box 12 receives command signals of one line that are transmitted in a multiplexed manner from the camera control unit 14 through the camera cable 15. Then, the CPU 23 outputs the first and second control values that almost equalize the change ratio of imaging operations such as aperture and white balance of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

Thus, the camera adaptor box 12 includes the following control values in a received command signal and outputs this command signal to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. On the basis of the information indicative of the imaging state at the time the camera heads 10 a and 10 b execute imaging operations, the CPU 23 sets the differential data between the first camera and the second camera beforehand by the first and second control values outputted to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. The CPU 23 stores the differential data between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and, by use of this differential data, functions as a correction control block for outputting the first control value to the first camera head 10 a and the second control value obtained by correcting the differential data to the second camera head 10 b. As a result, the camera heads 10 a and 10 b can be handled as if these camera heads were one unit of camera by applying the differential data to the control command to be received from the camera control unit 14.

With the camera adaptor box 12, a voltage control oscillator of the PLL circuit 21 is PLL-locked on the basis of a reference signal received from the camera control unit 14. The timing generation circuit 22 functions as an imaging timing adjustment block that outputs an imaging timing signal for adjusting the imaging timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to the PLL circuit 17 of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. This allows matching between the imaging timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. The timing generation circuit 22 generates imaging timing signals (T1 and T2) for use by the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, respectively. If a misalignment occurs between the imaging timing signals (T1 and T2) in the two cameras as a 3D image due to camera image inversion processing for example, the imaging timing signals (T1 and T2) can be shifted together to correct the misalignment.

As shown in FIG. 4, if the mount 7 is of a rig type with image inversion, it is helpful to match both the imaging timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and the video output timings. Therefore, the camera adaptor box 12 has an image delay function in addition to the image inversion function. It should be noted that, along with the image inversion function, the image delay function may be installed on the camera heads 10 a and 10 b or the camera adaptor box 12.

When the camera heads 10 a and 10 b receives imaging timing signals, the PLL circuit 17 executes a PLL operation on each camera head in a proper phase. Hence, in the system operation, the two camera heads 10 a and 10 b are simultaneously controlled, thereby allowing the camera adaptor box 12 to operate as if one unit of camera.

The video interface block 24 of the camera adaptor box 12 functions as a video output block that outputs images received from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b which executed imaging operations on the basis of the first and second control values with the imaging timings adjusted by imaging timing signals. If the imaging device 16 is a CMOS sensor based on line scan imaging (the CCD imager is of image planar scanning), then the camera heads 10 a and 10 b each have a function of changing the sequence of up/down directions at the time when an image is inverted in the up/down directions. Hence, the camera adaptor box 12 can adjust the image distortion direction caused by a rolling shutter effect.

The video interface block 24 vertically inverts the image received from one of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b in match with the image received from the other camera head and outputs a resultant image.

Next, the timing generation circuit 22 outputs an imaging timing signal to the other camera head by delaying the imaging timing by one frame.

In addition, the camera adaptor box 12 can select, as a viewfinder signal, an output from the camera head 10 a, an output from the camera head 10 b, a mixed output from both the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, or a differential output from the camera head 10 a to the camera head 10 b and display the selected signal. Display examples of this outputted image will be described later (with reference to FIGS. 13A to 14C).

Further, the camera adaptor box 12 has a function of switching between the main line and the return signal to output a viewfinder signal to the viewfinder block 13. If the viewfinder block 13 is compatible with 3D image display, the viewfinder block 13 can receive a 3D viewfinder signal from the video interface block 24 to display a 3D image. In this case, the video interface block 24 can add characters (or character information) and markers, for example, that are displayed on the viewfinder block 13 to the viewfinder signal so as to display these characters and markers in a 3D manner. For this purpose, the camera adaptor box 12 can set characters and markers at any distances by putting these characters and markers into the consideration of 3D perspective effect.

It should be noted that, for an exemplary application, the differential data for camera control may not be stored in the camera adaptor box 12. For example, the differential data may be stored in the camera head 10 a or the camera head 10 b to manipulate, inside the camera head 10 a or the camera head 10 b, the control data (or commands) supplied from the camera control unit 14. Control items include camera control items, such as iris, white balance, pedestal, gamma, filter, flair, black gamma, knee, and saturation and others.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an exemplary internal configuration of the camera adaptor box 12.

The camera adaptor box 12 has a reception block 27 for receiving command signals entered over the camera cable 5 and a transmission block 28 for transmitting video signals received from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b to the camera control unit 14.

Further, the camera adaptor box 12 has a timing generation circuit 22 for generating imaging timing signals (T1 and T2) for substantially simultaneously controlling the camera heads 10 a and 10 b by a PLL operation of the PLL circuit 21. In addition, the camera adaptor box 12 has genlock circuits 29 a and 29 b for transmitting imaging timing signals (T1 and T2) to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b with predetermined timings, thereby genlocking the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

In addition, the camera adaptor box 12 has a video interface block 24 for receiving video signals (C1 and C2) from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and transmitting a viewfinder signal to the viewfinder block 13 and transmitting the video signals (C1 and C2) to a video interface block 26 in the next stage.

The video interface block 24 outputs, to the viewfinder block, any one of an image outputted from the camera head 10 a, an image outputted from the camera head 10 b, a mixed image outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, a differential image obtained by subtracting the image outputted from the camera head 10 b from the image outputted from the camera head 10 a, divided images obtained by dividing the images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b at the center of screen, the divided images being substantially simultaneously displayed, and a 3D image.

Further, the camera adaptor box 12 has the video interface block 26 for transmitting a reference signal received by the reception block 27 to the PLL circuit 21, transmitting a return signal to the video interface block 24, and transmitting and receiving command signals with the CPU 23. The video interface block 26 also has a function of transmitting video signals (C1 and C2) received from the video interface block 24 to a transmission block 28.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an exemplary internal configuration of the video interface block 24.

The video interface block 24 has FIFO memories 31 a and 31 b for storing video signals entered from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, respectively, in a first-in first-out basis, memories 33 a and 33 b for temporarily storing video signals read from the FIFO memories 31 a and 31 b, and filter blocks 32 a and 32 b for appropriately accessing the memories 33 a and 33 b to horizontally and vertically filter the video signals. The video interface block 24 also has the video interface 34 for outputting the video signals (C1 and C2) received from the filter blocks 32 a and 32 b to the video interface block 26. The video interface 34 also has a function as a selector for selecting one of the video signals (C1 and C2) to be outputted to the video interface block 26.

In addition, the video interface 34 has a viewfinder signal processor 35 for generating viewfinder signals outputted to the viewfinder block 13 by the video signals received from the filter blocks 32 a and 32 b. The viewfinder signals are outputted to the viewfinder block 13. The viewfinder block 13 displays various viewfinder images accordingly.

The video interface block 24 has a FIFO memory 36 for storing a return signal received from the video interface block 26, on a first-in first-out basis. The return signal read from the FIFO memory 36 is transmitted to the video interface 34 for use in a predetermined processing operation.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown an exemplary internal configuration of the CPU 19 a of the camera head 10 a, the CPU 10 b of the camera head 10 b, and the CPU 23 of the camera adaptor box 12.

The CPU 23 of the camera adaptor box 12 has camera adaptor data 41 for controlling operations of the camera adaptor box 12, a correction processing block 43 for executing correction by predetermined correction functions, and correction data 42 that is entered in the correction processing block 43. The camera adaptor data 41 and the correction data 42 are stored in a memory, not shown.

The CPUs 19 a and 19 b of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b have camera data 45 a and 45 b for providing data unique to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b on the basis of the control signals received from the CPU 23, and trim data 46 a and 46 b for correcting the individual differences of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, respectively. In addition, the CPUs 19 a and 19 b has adding blocks 47 a and 47 b for adding the trim data 46 a and 46 b to each control signal and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 48 a and DSP 48 b for controlling operations of the components of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b on the basis of control signals received from the adding block 47 a and 47 b.

The following describes each of the above-mentioned components.

First, the control panel 11 outputs a control signal to the camera adaptor box 12, thereby outputting a predetermined control command. Next, the CPU 23 stores the command received from the control panel 11 into camera adaptor data 41 and controls the camera head 10 a as instructed by the stored command. It should be noted here that the operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b in mechanism or software may not actually match each other even if the imaging conditions of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are equal between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. A mismatch between the operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b is referred to a “difference.” The camera adaptor box 12 eliminates this difference to prevent the images taken by the camera heads 10 a and 10 b from being shifted.

The camera adaptor box 12 has correction data 42 for correcting the difference between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. On the basis of the operation of the camera head 10 a, the difference to the operation of the camera head 10 b relative to the operation of the camera head 10 a is corrected by the correction processing block 43. Consequently, the camera adaptor box 12 corrects the command from the control panel 11 by a given function, thereby controlling the camera head 10 b. For example, the correction processing block 43 can correct the irises of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b by use of a correction function to be described later.

Hence, the control signal for operating the camera head 10 a is outputted to the camera head 10 a without being corrected by the camera adaptor box 12. The CPU 19 a in the camera head 10 a corrects the command issued from the control panel 11 by given camera data 45 a and trim data 46 a to the control signal and then outputs a command to the DSP 48 a. Consequently, the DSP 48 a controls the operation of the camera head 10 a.

On the other hand, the control signal corrected by the correction processing block 43 is outputted to the camera head 10 b. The CPU 19 b in the camera head 10 b gives camera data and adjustment data to the control signal to correct the command issued from the control panel 11 and outputs the corrected command to the DSP 48 b. Consequently, the DSP 48 b controls the operation of the camera head 10 b.

The camera heads 10 a and 10 b installed on the mount 7 are arranged so that the lens optical axes cross each other at right angles as shown in FIG. 4 and the camera head 10 a outputs a video signal with up/down and left/right directions aligned relative to a subject. However, the camera head 10 b is arranged with the imaging direction in which imaging is done by the camera head 10 b inverted. Therefore, the images outputted by the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are inverted in the vertical image (depending on the installation, the image in the horizontal direction may be inverted).

Therefore, if the vertical direction is inverted, the video interface block 24 in the camera adaptor box 12 delays the output of the video signal received from the camera head 10 a by a time equivalent to one field and outputs the delayed signal. On the other hand, because the line scan of the video signal received from the camera head 10 b is opposite in direction with the line scan of the video signal received from the camera head 10 a, the video interface block 24 makes adjustment so that one field of the video signal is stored and outputted by substantially the similar line scan to the video signal received from the camera head 10 a. This processing allows the camera adaptor box 12 to provide synchronization between the frames of the video signals received from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and output the synchronized video signals to the camera control unit 14.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, there are shown examples in which matches are made between the imaging timings and video output timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b by changing scan directions if the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are of sequential scan type as CMOS sensors.

FIG. 9A shows an image being taken by the camera head 10 a, then FIG. 9B shows an image being taken by the camera head 10 b. At this moment, the vertical scan sequence of the camera head 10 b may be inverted to make the imaging time of the image match that of the camera head 10 a and also match the video output timing (the camera head 10 b has a function of setting scan directions as desired).

FIGS. 10 through 12 show examples of correction functions that are used by the correction processing block 43 to correct the iris of the camera head 10 b.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown an example of iris adjustment values to be given to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and actual iris apertures.

First, an iris control signal is transmitted from the control panel 11 to the camera adaptor box 12 via the camera control unit 14. This iris control signal is used for an iris adjustment value for adjusting the irises of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

It is desired here that the iris adjustment value indicated by the camera control unit 14 and the iris aperture value at the time the irises of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are actually driven change ideally along a line 50. However, the figure is indicative that the iris aperture of the camera head 10 a changes along a correction function 51 and the iris aperture of the camera head 10 b changes along a line 52. Hence, there may occur a difference between the iris apertures of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b relative to the iris adjustment value, thereby resulting in differences in luminance and so on of the taken image. Therefore, by use of a correction curve shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 23 converts the iris adjustment value transmitted to the camera head 10 b into the control value of the iris adjustment value transmitted to the camera head 10 a.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an example of iris adjustment values to be given to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

As described above, although the same iris adjustment value is used on the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, the camera heads 10 a and 10 b use different iris apertures. Hence, with reference to the camera head 10 a, the degree of change for the camera head 10 b is defined by a curve correction function. The values of the correction function changes from time to time depending on the correction data 42. As shown in the figure, the change in the iris adjustment value to be given to the camera head 10 b can be made go along a correction function 51 indicative of the change in the iris adjustment value to be given to the camera head 10 a, thereby operating the camera heads 10 a and 10 b with a same iris aperture.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an example of iris adjustment values to be given to the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

The correction function 51 shown in FIG. 12 is generally the same as the correction function 51 shown in FIG. 11 except for plots 53 a through 55 a specified on the correction function 51 shown in FIG. 10 that are for approximating the correction 51 with a dotted line. The correction values of the iris adjustment values of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are measured in advance, and then the correction function is approximated by the dotted line on the basis of the measured correction values. At this moment, plots 53 b through 55 b in the iris adjustment value to be given to the camera head 10 b are corrected in match with the plots 53 a through 55 a, respectively.

FIGS. 13A to 14C show examples of images that are displayed on the viewfinder block 13.

The camera adaptor box 12 can select, as a viewfinder signal, an output image of the camera head 10 a, an output image of the camera head 10 b, a mixed output image of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, and a differential image between the output images of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b and display the selected image on the viewfinder block 13.

Then, the engineer can operate a menu interface displayed on the viewfinder block 13, a rotary switch attached to the camera adaptor box 12, or allocate push switches or sequentially operate the push switches, thereby selecting images to be displayed on the viewfinder block 13. The engineer can also switch an image to be displayed on the viewfinder block 13 to a return signal in response to a request for receiving from the camera control unit 14 or the like, thereby outputting the return signal. In addition, if the viewfinder block 13 is compatible with 3D image display, the engineer can display images for two channels outputted from the left and right channels and add a selection menu for this purpose.

FIG. 13A shows an example of an image of the right channel that is outputted from the camera head 10 a.

FIG. 13B shows an example of an image of the left channel that is outputted from the camera head 10 b.

Because the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are arranged on the mount 7 in match with the parallax of user, a horizontal shift is observed between the images of the right channel and the left channel.

FIG. 13C shows an example of a mixed image obtained by mixing the images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

A mixed image is obtained by adding a luminance signal and a chrominance signal (Lch_Y, Lch_CB, Lch_CR) of the camera head 10 b (the left channel) to a luminance signal and a chrominance signal (Lch_Y, Rch_CB, Rch_CR) of the camera head 10 a (the right channel). This mixed signal is colored.

FIG. 14A shows an example of a differential image.

A differential image is a gray image obtained by subtracting a video signal outputted from the camera head 10 a from a video signal outputted from the camera head 10 a. FIG. 14A shows a differential image obtained by taking a video chart. At this moment, the video interface block 24 displays the differential image on the viewfinder block 13 on the basis of a difference between the luminance signal or chrominance signal of an image taken by the camera head 10 a and the luminance signal or chrominance signal taken by the camera head 10 b.

The differential image is obtained by subtracting the luminance signal (Rch_Video) of the camera head 10 a (the right channel) from the luminance signal (Lch_Video) of the camera head 10 b (the left channel). It is also practicable to subtract the luminance signal of the camera head 10 b (the left channel) from the luminance signal of the camera head 10 a (the right channel). Then, an obtained differential value is divided by 2 or another proper number and a result of the division is added with a video level (50_Video_Level) of a proper value as an offset.

The above-mentioned explanation can be expressed as follows:

(Lch_Video−Rch_Video)/2+50_Video_Level

As a result, a differential image with attention put only on luminance can be displayed on the viewfinder block 13.

Likewise, it is practicable to create differential data on the basis of chrominance data. At this time, a difference is obtained by subtracting a chrominance signal (Rch_CB, Rch_CR) of the camera head 10 a (the right channel) from a chrominance signal (Lch_CB, Lch_CR) of the camera head 10 b (the left channel).

(Lch_CB−Rch_CB)/2 or (Lch_CR−Rch_CB)/2

It should be noted, however, that, because point 0 is the intermediate point, an offset value need not be added in this case. For highlighted display, color intensification may be made by the multiplication by a proper value without the division by 2.

Thus, a monochrome mode in which only luminance is displayed as a differential image and a color mode in which chrominance data is added can be displayed on the viewfinder block 13.

If the zoom and direction of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are correctly arranged, there occurs no shift in video, so that a resultant differential image is in an ideal state in which no outline is displayed. However, if there is a difference between the arrangements of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, there occurs a shift between the two images, resulting in the enhanced outline of the subject as shown on the left side in FIG. 14A. This provides information that is effective in correctly setting the zoom and direction of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b set on the mount 7.

FIG. 14B shows an example of an anaglyph image.

The anaglyph image is used to provide a 3D image. For example, through a red cellophane film for the left eye and a blue cellophane film for the right eye, the user can get a 3D image effect.

FIG. 14C shows an example of divided image obtained by dividing images.

In this example, the right half of an image outputted from the camera head 10 a and the left half of an image outputted from the camera head 10 b are connected with each other at the centers thereof, the resultant image being displayed. This allows the engineer to understand distortions and the like of the installation positions of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, making it easy to align the distortions in the horizontal direction. It should be noted that, although not shown, the upper half of an image outputted from the camera head 10 a and the lower half of an image outputted from the camera head 10 b may be connected with each other at the center thereof. In this case, it becomes easy to align the distortion in the vertical direction of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b.

According to the above-described camera adaptor box 12 practiced as one embodiment of the invention, a differential value of an operation of the camera head 10 b relative to the camera head 10 a is obtained with reference to an operation of the camera head 10 a. Then, the operation of the camera head 10 b is controlled on the basis of the differential value. Consequently, in outputting, from the control panel 11, a control signal for the camera adaptor box 12 to control operations of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, the engineer can control the two units of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b as if the camera heads 10 a and 10 b were one unit of camera head. In addition, because the camera heads connected to the camera adaptor box 12 look like one unit from the camera control unit 14 constituting the camera systems 2 and 3, the configuration of the camera systems 2 and 3 will not be complicated. Further, the camera heads 10 a and 10 b output the homogeneous images with the differences thereof removed, so that effects can be obtained that an output suitable for a 3D image in which two images are combined for display is obtained.

Besides, the engineer can simultaneously control the camera heads 10 a and 10 b while correcting the difference between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b by use of a correction function and so on. This facilitates the cooperative linkage between the camera heads 10 a and 10 b. Thus, handling the two units of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b used in the 3D camera systems 1 through 3 facilitates the camera operation (live coverage, relay, and so on) in 3D camera systems.

The timing generation circuit 22 of the camera adaptor box 12 can provide a match between the imaging timings in accordance with the output timing or an image in which a difference has occurred to adjust the imaging timings of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, thereby simultaneously taking a subject. In addition, the video interface block 24 executes processing such as inverting an image outputted from the camera head 10 b in match with the imaging timing outputted by the timing generation circuit 22, thereby matching the outputting timing of the image outputted from the camera adaptor box 12. Therefore, in matching the images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b as a 3D image, the images having no feeling of unnaturalness can be outputted.

Further, by use of the images outputted from the camera heads 10 a and 10 b, not only the image for each channel, but also a mixed image, a differential image, an anaglyph image, and a divided image can be outputted to the viewfinder block 13 and a display device, not shown. Therefore, effects can be obtained that the adjustment of the irises and setting positions of the camera heads 10 a and 10 b are facilitated.

Variations

It should be noted that, in the above-described embodiment, iris adjustment values are set for the correction made by use of correction functions, the correction may also be made for zoom setting values and so on by use of correction functions. The values to be correction are not limited to iris and zoom values.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the camera heads 10 a and 10 b have no viewfinder block; however, it is also practicable that the two units of cameras each have a viewfinder block.

The above-mentioned sequence of processing operations may be executed by software as well as hardware as well as a combination of hardware and software. When the above-mentioned sequence of processing operations is executed by software, the operations can be executed by a computer in which the programs constituting the software are installed in dedicated hardware equipment or a computer in which the programs for executing various functions are installed. For example, the programs constituting the desired software may be installed into a general-purpose personal computer or the like for the execution of various functions.

Further, a recording media storing the program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments may be supplied to the system or apparatuses concerned. It is also practicable to realize the above-mentioned functions by making the computers (or the controllers such as CPUs) of the system or apparatuses read program codes from the recording media for execution.

The above-mentioned recording media for storing program codes include a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or a ROM, for example.

Executing program codes read by the computer realizes the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments. In addition, on the basis of the instructions given by these program codes, the operating system (OS) and so on running on the computer execute part or all of the actual processing. The above-mentioned functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are also realized by this execution processing.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

The present application contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2009-292607 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Dec. 24, 2009, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

1. An adapter for controlling a first camera and a second camera in a three-dimension (3D) camera imaging system, said first and second cameras exhibiting differing operating characteristics and producing image signals, said adapter comprising: a source of a camera control signal to control predetermined operations of said first camera; and a converter for converting said camera control signal to a second camera control signal to control said predetermined operations of said second camera, said converter compensating for said differing operating characteristics of said first and second cameras.
 2. The adapter as recited in claim 1, further comprising an output for supplying image signals picked up by said first camera and said second camera.
 3. The adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the first camera and the second camera are controlled substantially simultaneously.
 4. The adapter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a processing unit for receiving an initial first control value and an initial second control value.
 5. The adapter as recited in claim 4, wherein the adapter sends the initial first control value to the first camera and the initial second control value to the second camera, and wherein the processing unit calculates differential data as a function of (1) information indicative of an imaging state of the first camera and (2) information indicative of an imaging state of the second camera.
 6. The adapter as recited in claim 5, further comprising: a storage unit for storing the differential data.
 7. The adapter as recited in claim 5, wherein the converter utilizes the differential data for compensating for said differing operating characteristics of said first camera and the second camera.
 8. The adapter as recited in claim 5, wherein the processing unit generates a corrected control value as a function of the differential data.
 9. The adapter as recited in claim 8, wherein the source of the camera control signal sends the camera control signal to the first camera and sends a corrected control signal to the second camera, wherein the corrected control signal is a function of the corrected control value.
 10. The adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera control signal controls an iris adjust value, aperture, zoom, camera direction, setting positions, or timing.
 11. The adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein a difference in the image signals supplied by the first camera and the second camera are utilized in converting said camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control said predetermined operations of said second camera.
 12. The adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein images from the first camera and second camera are supplied to a viewfinder, wherein a difference in the supplied image to the viewfinder by the first camera and the second cameras are utilized in converting said camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control said predetermined operations of said second camera.
 13. The adapter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a timing generation circuit for generating a first timing signal and a second timing signal for controlling operation of the first camera and the second camera simultaneously.
 14. A method of controlling a first camera and a second camera in a three-dimension (3D) camera imaging system, said first and second cameras exhibiting differing operating characteristics and producing image signals, said method comprising the steps of: providing a camera control signal for controlling operation of said first camera; and converting said camera control signal to a second camera control signal for controlling operation of said second camera, said converting step compensating for said differing operating characteristics of said first and second cameras.
 15. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: outputting image signals picked up by the first and second cameras.
 16. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: controlling the first and second cameras simultaneously.
 17. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: receiving an initial first control value and an initial second control value; sending the initial first control value to a first camera and the initial second control value to a second camera; and calculating differential data as a function of (1) information indicative of an imaging state of the first camera and (2) information indicative of an imaging state of the second camera.
 18. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising: utilizing the differential data in said converting step.
 19. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising: generating a corrected control value as a function of the differential data; and supplying the camera control signal to the first camera and a corrected control signal to the second camera, wherein the corrected control signal is a function of the corrected control value.
 20. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: utilizing a difference in the image signals supplied by the first and second cameras in converting said camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control said predetermined operations of said second camera.
 21. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: supplying images from the first and second cameras to a viewfinder, utilizing a difference in the supplied image to the viewfinder by the first and second cameras in converting said camera control signal to the second camera control signal to control said operation of said second camera.
 22. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising: generating a first timing signal and a second timing signal for controlling operation of the first camera and the second camera simultaneously. 